Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73not60

§9731 Support for International Election Observation and Democratic Civil Society

Title 22 › Chapter 104— VENEZUELA ASSISTANCE › Subchapter IV— RESTORING DEMOCRACY AND ADDRESSING THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN VENEZUELA › § 9731

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of State, working with the USAID Administrator, must team up with the Organization of American States to get trusted international observers for future elections in Venezuela so those elections are free, fair, and open. The Secretary must also work with nongovernmental groups to strengthen democratic institutions (including the elected National Assembly), protect and document human rights abuses, help independent media reach people beyond the limited channels the Maduro government allows, and fight corruption and improve transparency in institutions tied to the Maduro regime. The Secretary should ask the U.S. representative to the OAS to build diplomatic support for sending an observation mission to Venezuela. Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary must brief four congressional committees (Senate Foreign Relations; Senate Appropriations; House Foreign Affairs; House Appropriations) on the plan. Up to $17,500,000 is authorized for fiscal year 2020 for these activities. If funds come from the Economic Support Fund or the Development Assistance Fund, the notification rules in section 2346(c) and section 2413(a) apply.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §9731

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development—

(1)shall work with the Organization of American States to ensure credible international observation of future elections in Venezuela that contributes to free, fair, and transparent democratic electoral processes; and

(2)shall work with nongovernmental organizations—

(A)to strengthen democratic governance and institutions, including the democratically elected National Assembly of Venezuela;

(B)to defend internationally recognized human rights for the people of Venezuela, including support for efforts to document crimes against humanity and violations of human rights;

(C)to support the efforts of independent media outlets to broadcast, distribute, and share information beyond the limited channels made available by the Maduro regime; and

(D)to combat corruption and improve the transparency and accountability of institutions that are part of the Maduro regime.

(b)The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States, should advocate and build diplomatic support for sending an election observation mission to Venezuela to ensure that democratic electoral processes are organized and carried out in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

(c)Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall provide a briefing on the strategy to carry out the activities described in subsection (a) to—

(1)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(2)the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(3)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(4)the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(d)(1)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for fiscal year 2020, $17,500,000 to carry out the activities set forth in subsection (a).

(2)Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) are subject to the notification requirements applicable to expenditures from the Economic Support Fund under section 2346(c) of this title and from the Development Assistance Fund under section 2413(a) of this title, to the extent that such funds are expended.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 9731

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60